Sexual Abuse And Its Effect On Children

Of the many problems faced by children and adolescents, few provoke such moral outrage as childhood sexual abuse. Many times, as on the television show “To Catch a Predator”, such abuse can be inflicted by strangers who may gradually become familiar with the child online. Sadly, however, often times the perpetrator of sexual abuse on children is someone much more familiar to the child- someone the child may even love.

Sexual abuse is a prevalent crime that can have numerous short and long term effects on a victim. It describes as any form sexual activity that is accomplished by force or threat where consent is not given. This includes rape, molestation, incest, and other similar forms of non-consensual sexual contact. The effects of sexual abuse are not the same for every victim, victims may feel varied responses and emotions that can depend on own situations. The act of abuse may had happened a long time ago or be more recent.

Your past affects your future, that is one idea that most people can agree upon. Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse develop symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and are unable to form positive working relationships. Often times the effects of CSA are not fully manifested until later in life. According to Doctor Judith Worell’s Encyclopedia of Women and Gender, nearly 50 percent of Childhood Sexual Abuse reported in 1997 involved victims seven years and younger with the remaining half being split 22 percent between ages eight and eleven, and 25 percent between age twelve and eighteen. Some may argue that at young ages children may forget what has happened to them therefore it will not affect them in the future, although this may be possible,

Statutory rape refers to sexual relations involving someone below the "age of consent." People below the age of consent cannot legally consent to having sex. This means that sex with them, by definition, violates the law.

The term "statutory rape" is defined as “sexual relations between an underage minor female and an adult male or vice versa” (Criminology: The Core). Individuals that engage in sexual activity should be at the age of consent. The age of consent varies by state laws and the legal ramifications for breaking this law is set in accordance with their ethical standards. The age of consent law even considers sexual relation between a minor and adult that is non-violent or unforced to be statutory rape.

Next, is going to be about the punishments for sex offenders, juvenile sex offender’s etc. When the offender is placed in front of the judge the statuses will normally set a range of punishments. Some judges will also “examine” the sex offenders and irritation and justifying issues when deciding on the fully committed sentence. This is because if they have more justifying factors about them than aggravating factors they could get lucky and get a more lenient sentence. If they have committed a bad enough sexual assault then they can get 24, 36 or even 48 months in prison with a $10,000 bond. This kind of sentence with the bond being allowed is called the “determinant” this is basically there to kind of let the offender know that the law is not kidding around about sexual abuse or sexual assaults. This punishment also depends on the state of where this assault was convicted if the child received any mental/physical damage to their body. In some states they have begun to make their laws a little tougher with Florida making the number one spot they have started to consider the death penalty. Also some states have slowed the death rate for sexual offenses and some states have made a law with life without parole. There punishment can also be varied

Statutory Rape is considered to be a relationship with a boy or girl that are under the age of eighteen, who are wrongfully having a sexual relationship with someone who is over the age of eighteen. “Statutory rape is used when the government considers people are under a certain age to be unable to give consent to sex and therefore consider sexual contact with them to be a rape. The age at which people are considered to give assent is known as the time of assent. The age of consent can ranging

Back in the day there were not as many child protecting laws and assisting facilities like there are today. In 1960’s there was very little information as it relates to child abuse. A Canadian psychologist by the name of William L. Marshall said, “you could read all the information in one morning. With the lack of information there was no way for individuals to readily identify what constituted as child abuser. Child abuse before 1875 was in fact the era before child services were created to protect the children.

Sexual abuse, whether of adults or children, is also abuse of a position of power. It also covers any behaviour by any adult towards a child to stimulate either the adult or child sexuality. When the victim is younger than the age of consent (it is a minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts), it is referred to as child sexual abuse.

. (Stewart, ) contends that feelings of vulnerability, unworthiness and powerless difficulty in distinguishing sexual from affectionate behaviours, mistrust, shame, guilt, stigma and mental health problems are psychological effects of CSA. A study conducted by (Wilson, 2010) indicates that adult survivors of CSA show a series of psychological and physical problems throughout their lives. (Hornor, 2010) argues that the majority of children who are sexually abused will be moderately to severely symptomatic at some point in their life. There is evidence to suggest that (Stevenson, 1999) children who are exposed to sexual abuse are at risk negative consequences as a result of the abuse itself, not solely as a consequence of other associated background

Statutory rape refers to sexual relations involving a minor. People below the age of consent cannot legally consent to having sex. This means that sex with a minor violates the law. Statutory rapists do not have to use force, with the victim being so young it substitutes for force. The age of consent can very on the state.

The aim of the research is to explore the long term effects of CSA in three developmental domains; Social, Emotional and Behavioural. The three domains are associated with The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families, (Department of Health 2012). Each domain plays a vital role in the developmental needs of a child, interruptions in one or more of the domains can lead to a child not meeting their full potential, (Department for Education and Skills 2004). The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families, highlights the importance of these specific developmental domains in order for a child to achieve, it is for this reason why I have chosen to explore these areas. The emotional aspect will discuss depression, feelings of guilt and anxiety. The social aspect will focus on relationships and intimacy, and finally the behavioural aspect will discuss issues self-destructive behaviours.

As time goes on the child will experience verbal seduction, prolonged kissing, french kissing, looking at children nude, anal or vaginal intercourse, oral sex, manual stimulation in other words rape. Children may even be photographed naked or video taped to created sexual stimulation. The child will have threats given to them by the abuser such as if you don't let me do this, you will be in trouble with results in a harsh punishment leading to other forms of abuse that could be not feeding the child which is neglect or physical punishment of beatings. The abuser could also be other children, aunts, uncles, grandparents, step mothers or fathers, even day care providers, anyone of any age older then the child who is being sexually abused and left alone with this person is at risk for sexual abuse. When this child is engaging in sexual activity it is more likely for the child to have problems with their genitals of bleeding, itching, intense pain, bruising, and difficulty using the

Sexual abuse in children has an impact on their development in adulthood. As a result of this horrifying experience, victims may feel ashamed of themselves even though they are the victims and have done nothing wrong. Also victims have an inability to trust adults because someone they once trusted took advantage of them. They may feel defenseless and powerless. Sexual abuse never goes away, as much as an individual tries to block it, it will be a part of them for the rest of their lives.

Statutory rape describes sexual activity where one participating party is below the age of consent to engage in the sexual conduct. The term usually refers to adults engaging in sexual activities with minors under the age of consent; however, only a handful of jurisdictions recognize the actual words "statutory rape" in its legal code. Statutory rape differs from forcible rape because imposed force or threat is not present during the sexual acts. However, the laws presume that adult coerced the minor into having sex because a minor or mentally challenged are unsuitable to make their own decisions, according to the courts. Statutory rape differs from "child molestation," which is typically treated as a far more severe crime.